Published: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 1:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 1:13 p.m.

With only a small chance of rain in the forecast for the Memorial Day weekend, the chance of travel for many families is dependent on their income.

Facts

National Weather Service forecast for Ocala

National Weather Service forecast for OcalaThis Afternoon: Sunny, with a high near 94. Southeast wind around 7 mph.Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind between 3 and 7 mph.Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South wind between 3 and 8 mph.Thursday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 92. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph.Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.Saturday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 90.Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.Memorial Day: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

Facts

Memorial Day Weekend travel plans

According to the National Weather Service, the likelihood of showers or thunderstorms will only reach 30 percent in Alachua County and 40 percent in Marion County over the three-day weekend while high temperatures reach the low to mid 90s.

But the chance of traveling is 10 percent lower this year than last for households with incomes below $50,000, according to AAA. That's compared to the chance of travel for households with incomes of $50,000 or more, which is up five percent over 2010.

The auto club's annual survey of travel plans for the first holiday of the summer showed the profile of travelers has changed because gas prices are a dollar a gallon higher than they were a year ago.

In a news release about the survey, Brent Hubele, the vice president of Travel for AAA Auto Club South said profile changes were along income levels.

Households with incomes of less than $50,000 a year are expected to make up 31 percent of travelers, which is down 10 percent from a year ago. The number of travelers with incomes of between $50,000 and $100,000 is projected to rise six percent while travelers with household incomes of more than $100,000 could increase by five percent.

“The rising fuel costs this year have had a more significant affect on those with lower household discretionary spends since filling up their tank takes a bigger cut of their overall budget,” said Hubele.

Overall, the auto club is projecting that the number of travelers will be down about .2 percent from a year ago. The survey showed 34.9 million Americans are planning to travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the long weekend.

Travelers told survey-takers that they plan to travel an average of 792 miles over the holiday, which is about 100 miles more than a year ago.

Despite going further from home, those surveyed anticipated spending less than they did in 2010. The survey showed the average amount expected to be spent per person this year is $692, well below the $809 spent last year.

Those traveling to any part of Florida this weekend will need relatively large quantities of sunblock and fluids.

The National Weather Service said afternoon highs are likely to reach the mid to upper 90s across virtually the entire state with sunny skies producing heat index readings of 100 degree or more.

In their holiday weekend forecast, meteorologists in the Jacksonville office wrote “drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated when performing outside activities.”

The weather staff also noted in their forecast that “an elevated fire danger will continue from the Osceola National Forest to the Suwannee River Valley due to very dry conditions.”

Although there are scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, Division of Forestry spokeswoman Ludie Bond said they are usually not big rainmakers at this time of year.

“We are expecting some extremely high temperatures which often bring lightning systems,” Bond said. “We don't need the lightning because it starts wildfires and we already have plenty of them. We need the precipitation.”

Bond said that historically, Memorial Day weekend is an active holiday for fires because so many people are outdoors.

“The more folks you have doing outdoor activities, the greater the likelihood you may have fires started accidentally.”

Bond urged residents and visitors to be vigilant around fire ignition sources like barbecue grills.

<p>With only a small chance of rain in the forecast for the Memorial Day weekend, the chance of travel for many families is dependent on their income.</p><div class="art_item art_item_inset art_item_facts">
<h3>Facts</h3>
<h4>Memorial Day Weekend travel plans</h4>
<p>Florida Nationwide<br><br>Auto 1.64 million 30.88 million<br>Air 155,058 2.93 million<br>Other 37,316 1.08 million<br> (bus, train, etc.)<br><br>TOTAL 1.83 million 34.9 million<br><br>Source: AAA</p>
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<p>According to the National Weather Service, the likelihood of showers or thunderstorms will only reach 30 percent in Alachua County and 40 percent in Marion County over the three-day weekend while high temperatures reach the low to mid 90s. </p><p>But the chance of traveling is 10 percent lower this year than last for households with incomes below $50,000, according to AAA. That's compared to the chance of travel for households with incomes of $50,000 or more, which is up five percent over 2010.</p><p>The auto club's annual survey of travel plans for the first holiday of the summer showed the profile of travelers has changed because gas prices are a dollar a gallon higher than they were a year ago.</p><p>In a news release about the survey, Brent Hubele, the vice president of Travel for AAA Auto Club South said profile changes were along income levels.</p><p>Households with incomes of less than $50,000 a year are expected to make up 31 percent of travelers, which is down 10 percent from a year ago. The number of travelers with incomes of between $50,000 and $100,000 is projected to rise six percent while travelers with household incomes of more than $100,000 could increase by five percent.</p><p>“The rising fuel costs this year have had a more significant affect on those with lower household discretionary spends since filling up their tank takes a bigger cut of their overall budget,” said Hubele.</p><p>Overall, the auto club is projecting that the number of travelers will be down about .2 percent from a year ago. The survey showed 34.9 million Americans are planning to travel 50 miles or more from their homes over the long weekend.</p><p>Travelers told survey-takers that they plan to travel an average of 792 miles over the holiday, which is about 100 miles more than a year ago.</p><p>Despite going further from home, those surveyed anticipated spending less than they did in 2010. The survey showed the average amount expected to be spent per person this year is $692, well below the $809 spent last year. </p><p>Those traveling to any part of Florida this weekend will need relatively large quantities of sunblock and fluids.</p><p>The National Weather Service said afternoon highs are likely to reach the mid to upper 90s across virtually the entire state with sunny skies producing heat index readings of 100 degree or more.</p><p>In their holiday weekend forecast, meteorologists in the Jacksonville office wrote “drink plenty of fluids to remain hydrated when performing outside activities.”</p><p>The weather staff also noted in their forecast that “an elevated fire danger will continue from the Osceola National Forest to the Suwannee River Valley due to very dry conditions.”</p><p>Although there are scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, Division of Forestry spokeswoman Ludie Bond said they are usually not big rainmakers at this time of year.</p><p>“We are expecting some extremely high temperatures which often bring lightning systems,” Bond said. “We don't need the lightning because it starts wildfires and we already have plenty of them. We need the precipitation.”</p><p>Bond said that historically, Memorial Day weekend is an active holiday for fires because so many people are outdoors.</p><p>“The more folks you have doing outdoor activities, the greater the likelihood you may have fires started accidentally.”</p><p>Bond urged residents and visitors to be vigilant around fire ignition sources like barbecue grills.</p>